71
+25 BONUS
It must be a date! Oh, how foolish you are! Yes, it’s obviously a date, Ava,” Debra said to Ava.
Abigail nodded her head in agreement.
After attending their classes, the three friends were walking on campus.
“I am not a fool. I also thought the same. But he was casual and said that he just wanted to talk to me, so…”
Ava paused, mumbling, as she reflected on what Luke had said to her.
He said he wanted to take her to a coffee shop. He had something in his mind that he wanted to discuss. They were such good friends, that she did not take it that way.
“Trust me. Luke likes you. I have seen it in his eyes,” Abigail said.
“Me too,” Debra added.
Ava was stunned. She had never seen Luke that way before. He was her friend–a very good friend. She had never thought of him more than that.
“I–I.”
Ava’s lips halted as she glanced at Ian, who was walking out of a building where the head office was. The dean may have summoned him for what he did to the boy this morning.
Abigail and Debra followed her gaze. They shook their heads and exchanged glances.
They took a few deep breaths and decided to bring their old friend back.
Abigail held Ava’s hand, trying to pull her attention back to them.
Ava removed her angry gaze from Ian and looked at Abigail.
“Babe, you need to move on seriously. You can’t just look at him and remember about your past all the time. He is an asshole. He will never let you be happy if you remain single. So give someone a chance who genuinely cares about you.”
Debra grabbed her other hand and joined Abigail in persuading her.
“Listen, Ava. Life is too short to think about losers. Just get a new man and move on.”
Ava did not like Luke more than a friend. But she knew Luke would always treat her with respect. He would never bully her, or allow others to do so. He was not a bad boy like Ian, but a good boy who really cared for her.
Should she take things slowly with Luke and give him a chance? By doing so, she would allow herself to live her
life once more.
“Okay. Let’s see what he wants to talk about,” Ava murmured.
Abigail’s and Debra’s eyes widened, and the next moment, smiles appeared on their faces.
“Yes! That’s my girl!” Debra cheered with happiness.
Abigail embraced Ava. She patted her head and said,
put pressure on your head, okay? Just try. I believe you deserve a man like Luke. Your life will be full of love and happiness.”
‘Don’t
71
+25 BONUS
Ava smiled at her friends, who looked happier than ever.
The whole day, Ava did not get to see Stephen. He did not call her back, either.
Ava started to feel worried about Stephen. She was certain that he was not at the university.
Then, where was he?
When she returned home in the afternoon, she discovered the house was empty. Her mother had not returned yet, and Gamma Harper was always late.
When it was evening, Ava got ready to go out with Luke, as he had promised him.
She was dressed in a white top and a brown skirt that ended at her mid–thigh. She put on white sneakers with it. She styled her hair into a high ponytail.
As she descended the stairs, she noticed that the main gate had opened. Stephen had entered the house.
Behind him were his friends. She paused her steps.
Stephen looked at her outfit and asked,
“Ava, are you going somewhere?”
Ava shifted her gaze to Ian, who had just entered the house. His eyes were on her, moving slowly to her dress up.
She returned her gaze to Stephen before taking a step down to the floor. She approached Stephen and grabbed his hand, dragging him to a corner.
She glanced at Ian and asked Stephen,
“Bro, what is he doing here?”
After glancing at Ian, Stephen let out a deep breath. “Ava, he is my friend. It is not just him. My other friends are also here.”
Ava let out a sigh as she saw Paul, Ronald, and Cyrus. But her brow furrowed as she noticed Ian casually approaching the couch and sitting on it as if it were his home.
Stephen got her thoughts and said,
“Actually, my house is one of the places where they always come to hang out. My father gave me permission years ago for it. But it is also your house. So you can call your friends here anytime, you know.”
Ava shook her head. “I don’t have any problem with your other friends, but only with him.” Stephen raised a brow and asked, “I wanted to ask why you went into Ian’s fight, Ava?” Ava looked at him and replied, “Steph, he was beating someone.”
“So?”
Her eyes grew larger. Her eyes moved to the tattoos that almost reached Stephen’s neck. She looked away.
Her brother was one of them; how could she possibly forget that?
Putting his hand on her head, Stephen uttered,
“That boy deserved to be beaten. But you don’t need to think about it. I request that you please don’t come between Ian’s or any of our fights next time.”
2/3
71
+25 BONUS
Ava removed his hand from her head because she did not like what he was saying,
“Why didn’t you receive my calls?”
“I am sorry. My phone was in silent mode.”
Ava nodded in response. “It’s okay.
Her phone started to ring. She saw that it was Luke. She received the call.
“Ava, I am outside your new house.”
“Did you reserve any tables in the coffee shop?”
“No.”
“Then come inside my house. “Let me show you around,” she offered.
“Are you sure?”
Ava looked at her brother and said, “Yeah, my brother said I could call my friends at my house, too. So why don’t you come inside and have coffee at my house?”
“Not a bad idea.”
When Luke hung up, Ava gave Stephen a smile.
“My friend is coming.”
Stephen gave her a nod. “Who? Abigail or Debra?”
“Luke.”
He was not expecting this. She cleared her throat and patted his shoulder.
“I know there is a rivalry between Black Diamond and Red Flamor, but he is my friend. So..”
“Yeah, sure. I have no problem.” Stephen replied immediately.
Ava walked past him when she noticed Luke had just entered the house.
With a broad grin, she made her way to the main door.
But her steps came to a halt when she heard Ian’s deep voice from behind.
“What on earth is he doing in your home, Steph?”
